Allison Ristaino is a Chicago based writer, comedian, and performer originally from Massachusetts. She has been nominated for awards in four different film festivals for her short film, Break In, and was also the recipient of the The Jill Cummins MacLean Prize for Writing from Smith College where she achieved a BA in playwriting. She was selected to present her comedy sketch entitled Last Night at ScruggsFest at The Second City Chicago and her comedy articles have been published on the websites Weekly Humorist, 251, The Jabber, Greener Pastures Magazine, and Belladonna Comedy. She has over 42,000 followers on TikTok (@sillymissallison), and is a graduate of the Second City Conservatory and Writing Program. Allison is also a Montessori toddler teacher, so being able to write a play for young audiences is a dream come true and culmination of her passions in life! In her free time she loves thrift shopping, arts and crafts, and playing with her cat Gus.

Samara Siskind is an award-winning playwright based in South Florida. Her work has been produced across the globe and published by Playscripts, Brooklyn Publishers, Next Stage Press, and featured in The Best Ten-Minute Plays of 2023 and 2024 and The Best Women's and Men's Stage Monologues of 2024 and 2025 from Smith & Kraus. Her work has been developed and produced by Florida Repertory Theatre, Forward Theater Company, City Theatre Miami, CherryPicking NYC, Gi60: The International One Minute Play Festival, Murmuration Theatre Company, New City Players, the Morgan-Wixson Theater and Ivoryton Playhouse, amongst others. She is the Resident Dramaturg for Athena Project and a proud member of the Dramatists Guild. www.samarasiskind.com

Jennifer Ramsey grew up in rural Kansas with her horse…her dog…and her nose perpetually buried in a fantasy novel. When she’s not saving all creatures great and small at her day job as a veterinarian, she writes stories for both stage and screen that blend the fantastic with the everyday.

Dean W Scott has been a cartoonist longer than a veterinarian and a veterinarian longer than a writer. In many areas, these occupations overlap. His work ranges from children’s books to cartoon collections to short stories and novels in a variety of genres including fantasy and sci-fi.

Andrew J. Pond: (he/him) moved to Chicago from South Florida, where he had studied with the likes of Burt Reynolds, Dom DeLuise, José Quintero, and Charles Nelson Reilly. Since moving to Chicago, he has worked as an actor, director, and playwright, is a founder and Artistic Director of Eclectic Full Contact Theatre, an Elvis impersonator, balloon artist, voices characters on several of Eclectic’s audio drama podcasts (one of which he co-writes) narrates audiobooks, and has a degree in philosophy so he can use words like “epistemology” at parties. Otherwise, he is completely normal. Thanks to Jess, his partner in all things.

Makenzie Sands (she/they) (Stage Manager) is thrilled to be working with EFCT again. Originally from central Maine, she has a B.A. in Theatre (Tech/Design and Performance) from the University of Southern Maine. They were just recently the Assistant Stage Manager for Relatively Speaking with EFCT, their first show in Chicago. Some of her favorite credits from Maine include: Miss Scarlet in Clue (USM), Stage Manager for The Thanksgiving Play (USM), Robin Starveling in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (The Lord Chamberlain’s Other Men), and Stage Manager for God of Carnage (Schoolhouse Arts Center). When they are not doing theatre, they can be found drawing in their sketchbook while their cat, Moonlight, watches in confusion. She would love to thank her amazing family and friends.

Amina Gilbert (she/they) is a Chicago-based lighting designer and multi-hyphenate artist. Previously, they designed the lights for Eclectic’s production of Relatively Speaking. Other lighting credits include Spring Awakenings, Not Bitter Nor Sweet, A Paper Orchestra, Madam and Steve (Lazy Susan Theatre Co), The Pillowman (Concrete Content), Astronaut Group 1 (Griffin Theatre Co), Love’s Labours Lost (Dir. Gabriel Anderle, Lila Weisman), Tango Palace, and The It (Columbia College Chicago). Lighting assistantship credits include Little Bear Ridge Road (Steppenwolf Theatre), and In Quietness (A Red Orchid Theatre). In addition to lighting, Amina is a divisor, most recently seen in House of Dreams: Purim 5785, and is beginning her producing journey with Interpolated Theatre Co. Amina holds a BA in theatre from Columbia College Chicago. You can find her work at www.aminagilbert.com.

Hannah Keeler is excited to be working on their first EFCT show. Outside of design, Hannah is a scenic artist and playwright. Hannah spends most days teaching ballet to young dancers

Daniel Houle* - Producer / Production Manager / Scenic Designer: Daniel is excited to be producing live theater again. He received his BFA in acting from the University of Rhode Island in 2000 before touring with The National Players. Since Moving to Chicago in 2002 Daniel has worked with Bohemian Theater Ensemble, Prop Theater, Oak Park Festival Theater, Teatro Vista, Speaking Ring Theater Company, American Theater Company, Step Up Productions, City Lit, Timeline Theater, Silk Road Rising, Drury Lane, Steep Theater, Paramount Theater and is a company member with Eclectic Full Contact Theatre. Daniel also works in the Commercial and Voice Over worlds representing a variety of products. His network television credits include Chicago PD and Chicago Fire. Daniel would like to thank his family and friends for their continued love and support.